ICJ’s legal opinion on climate change sought

THE Philippines called on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue a legal opinion on climate change.

It made the call in response to the request of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for an advisory opinion on the question of the obligations of states concerning climate change.

In a statement signed by Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra and submitted by Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jose Eduardo Malaya, the Philippines urged the ICJ to view climate change within the context of all people’s fundamental right to life “from whence the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment flows from.”

“The participation of the Philippines

in the advisory opinion PROCEEDINGS IS SIGNIfiCANT AS IT ADdresses the issue of climate change, which is perhaps the greatest existential threat facing the world today,” Malaya said.

“It also marks the return of the country in the proceedings of the ICJ, the last one having been decades ago,” Malaya added.

In March 2023, the UNGA unanimously adopted Resolution 77/276, requesting the ICJ to render an advisory opinion on the obligations of states concerning climate change to ensure the protection of the climate system from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.

The resolution was initiated by Vanuatu and a core group of likeminded countries.